After heroically fighting through horrible hordes of traffic,
I made it to the Beverly Center in Los Angeles for some serious Fashion Geeking
with Roommate Jessie and (former) Roommate Tamara.

Almost every store at the Center was open until 11pm;
there were free drinks and treats,
and all SORTS of amazing sales.

I scored a 40% coupon from Steve Madden–
which I elected to wait until tomorrow to use,
since the store last night was elbow-deep in women
staggering around with one right foot in a shoe.

The event planners cordoned off a huge section of plaza
for a runway show–I caught the last couple of minutes,
but only in passing.

They were very smart to elevate the runway,
since it was standing room only.

Jessie had to leave early,
so La Tamara and I hit Melrose Avenue
pretty much *just* to see Alexander McQueen.

And it was glorious.

I think McQueen will always be my favorite designer.
His style was so fresh, innovative,
his choice of fabrics perfect.
I love the unique way he combined structural edges
and soft, flowing fabric.
His tailoring was *impeccable*.

…

And I really wanted those sunglasses.

(I think Tam and I managed to get hit on by the only two straight men in Hollywood that night.)

(We still got it, baby.)

Fashion’s Night Out Banner

Tam got two AMAZING dresses for Jessie for 75% off at Macy’s. Killer!

The Pink One. The Tall One. The Tattooed One.

Wonderlandy Handbag display at Louis Vuitton

Killer…Queeeeeen….Dynamite with a Couture Beeeeaaaam!

I may or may not have licked these.

I want this book. I want this show to come to Los Angeles.

Even the mannequins at McQueen are complicated.

A great coat with THIS under the collar? We died.

The adorable MartEEn told us that this was “right off the runway”

The details! THE DETAILS.

FIERCE.

These were adorable–little blue birds on the side, and *only* $360. MartEEn almost talked me into them.

Next year?

We will hit Rodeo, and work our way back towards the Beverly.
There was not enough time to see everything,
to take it all in.

I wish this were a couple of nights in a row!

Also?

I can’t believe I managed to walk around for three straight hours
in five inch heels.

In my mind
In a future five years from now
I’m a hundred and twenty pounds
And I never get hungover
Because I
Will be the picture of discipline
Never minding what state I’m in
And I will be someone I admire
And it’s funny how I imagined
That I would be that person now
But it does not seem to have happened
Maybe I’ve just forgotten how
To see
That I’m not exactly the person that I thought I’d be.

And in my mind
In the far-away here-and-now
I’ve become in-control somehow
And I never lose my wallet
Because I
Will be the picture of discipline
Never fucking-up anything
And I’ll be a good defensive driver…

The trouble is,
my closet was jeeest starting to undergo
a good and welcome change from “I’m-a-teacher-and-I-don’t-like-my-life”
and “I work for a company whose dress code is ‘Cover Your Vitals'”
to “Hey, maybe I should dress for the job I want “.

And then I lost my job.

And, you know,
groceries became a little more important than revamping my
(sad sack)
wardrobe.